Outside metal blind and operating means therefor



Jan. 1, 1952 A. C. FLETCHER OUTSIDE METAL yBLIND AND OPERATING MEANS THEREF'OR Filed March 25, 1949 Alben` INVENTOR.

C Fletcher Patented Jan. 1, 1952 UNITED s'rA'rss OUTSIDE METAL BLIND AND PERATING MEANS THE-REFOR Alberi Fletcher, oklahpma City, .oka., as

signor to William H. Stewart, Oklahoma City,

kla.

Application March ,25, 1949, serial No. 83,426 2 c1aiiiis;. v (ci. 18s-62) This invention relates to improvements vin outside metal blinds and operating means therefor. The present invention relates more particularly to the shutter slat or louver operatingumechani'sm, while the supporting frame structure dis closed is the subject matter of acopending application for outside metal blinds led by William H. Stewart on March 25, 1949, bearing the Serial No. 83,469.

An object of the invention is to providesimple and inexpensive operating means for shutter slat or louver elements, which are horizontally disposed in a shutter frame and` which will positively swing these shutter elements to various adjusted` positions between an open position where the elements are in a horizontally disposed outwardly extending position to a closed position where the elements are swung downwardly into a vertical position, with the lower edges of the shutter `elements overlapping the upper edges of the adjacent lower shutter elements. Y

Another object of the invention` is to provide such an improved shutter operating means which will positively operate the shutter slats or louvers at both ends of said members, as by means of links connected with outer sides of extensions of pivotally mounted shutter end elements where the links may be operated vin vertical channels in the frame structure at the inner side of the framen alongside the shutter member mounting side portion thereof. A cross bar connects the links and an inside manual operating crank so thatthere will be no middle operating b ar lto obstruct the view when the louvers are operated to open position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shutter operating means operable on the interior of a window screen formovingl the louvers from open to closed position and which is operable to positively lock the louvers, when in closed position, so that they cannot be 'swung open by manipulation on the outside of the window.

Further objects andadvantages will appear in the following description of a highly satisfactory embodiment of the operating means for outside metal blinds in accordance with my invention supplemented by the accompanying drawings illustrating the same and forming a part of this specification.

in the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an inside elevation View of the outside metal blinds and operating means therefor in accordance with my invention.

Fig'. 2 is a vertical Vsectional view thereof taken :on line 2;-2 of Fig. l, an open position vof the louversbeing shown'by 'dot and vdash lines".

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

e is a fragmental vertical sectional viev.r of an enlarged scale taken on line -vi oi" Eig. 1 illustrating the connection between the interior operating crank and the cross bar for raising and lowering the louver ,operating links. l

Fig. 5 is a fragmental vertical sectional View taken on line 5 5 of Figs illustrating a detail of the connection between the cross bar and louter operating links. K

general the drawings illustrate louvers i9, constituting blind or shutter elements, mounted in a metallic frame il` secured to a wooden trim or screen frame i2 which may be supported by means of detachable `hook members i3 in a window opening It. A screen l2 covers the inner side of metallic frame H and is secured in place on the outer surface of trim frame l2, between the abutting surfaces of the two frames. For purposes of illustration the shutter and frame organization is a small sise, well adapted for vent windows of kitchens and the like showing the louvers and other parts on a larger scale than they would be if the window illustrated were larger, although the principles involved would be the sameior such larger windows.

Metallic frame l il includes outer sideiinishing lchannel members IE and upper Vand lower end members i6 and ii respectively within which side channels, inner louver mounting channel members i3 are housed. These channel meinbers I8 each includesfan inwardly projecting narrow channel I9 affording a mounting for pivot members 2t) supporting end elements 2i the louvers lli. To the inner side of channel is is an outwardly extending wider channel 22, the outer surface of which engages the inner surface of its respective side channel member i5. These channels 22 provide spaces for the operation of vtertical links 23 therein, which are connected pivotsilwith the end elements i of louvers it in corresponding positions of each element offset from the pivots 2t at both ends of the louvers I9 so that the louvers may be opened or ciosed in unison by moving the links E53 down or up respectively in each of the channels. Further details ofjconstruction of the louvers iii and metallic` frame structure H appear in the above referred to copending application of William H.Stewart'.k

The lower ends of links 23 arerigidly connected to the-ends of a cross bar 25, the ends of which are reduced to provide shoulders 2tA which engage the inner sides of links 23. The intermediate projections 21 oi cross bar 25 extend through corresponding apertures in the links 23 and have their ends 28 upset beyond the links to 'provide permanent rigid connections with the links-as shown-in the detail Fig. 5. r

The intermediate portion, substantially the mid portion, of cross bar 25 is provided with a longitudinal slot 29 in which an operating pin 39, on the free end of a crank lever 3|, forming a part of the louver operating means, is adapted to reciprocate as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. This pin 39 has an enlarged head 32 on its outer end adapted to engage the outer surface of cross bar and prevent it from becoming disengaged therefrom. The inner end of pin 30 is provided with a threaded extension 33 which extends through an aperture in the end of crank lever 3| and a nut 34 threaded thereon securely holds the pin in place.

The other end of the swinging operating member or crank lever 3| has a rectangular or other irregular shaped opening, adapting it to slide on the reduced correspondingly shaped end 35 of an operating shaft 36 where it is secured against abutting shoulders 31 of the shaft by means of a cotter pin 38 or the like extending through a hole therefor in the end 35 so as to engage the outer side of lever 3|. Shaft 3| extends through a bearing member 39 which has a reduced threaded end 40 extending inwardly through an opening in the mid portion of an upwardly extending flange 4| of the lower end member of frame li, and a nut 42 on threaded end 40 secures the bearing in position.

Screen frame |2 is provided with an aperture 43 for accommodating the inner end of bearing member 39 with its securing nut 42 thereon and shaft 39 carried thereby. Shaft 3B extends through a finishing plate 44 on the interior surface of frame l2 and has a preferably Aenlarged square end portion 45 engaging and extending inwardly from plate 44. Plate 44, frame l2 and the upwardly extending flange 4| of the frame lower end member are provided with apertures for the reception of bolts 46, as shown in Figs. l and 3, which maintain the plate 44 and the frames at this point in assembled relationship. An operating crank 41 has a squared recess which ts the squared end 45 of shaft 3B and a set screw 43 removably secures crank 4l in place on shaft 39. This connection of crank 4l with shaft 39 allows the crank to be positioned on the shaft f so as to substantially overlie the crank lever 3| as may be preferable in some instances, or in the position indicated, substantially 90 from the lever 3|, in which position the relation of the parts are more clearly illustrated.

In operation with the crank lever 3| in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the louver or shutter elements i0 are closed upon each other. By swinging operating lever 41 counterclockwise through substantially 90, thereby swinging crank lever 3| the same amount, pin 3|! will move to the left in slot 29 in cross bar 25 moving it downwardly with links 23 thereby swinging louvers or shutter elements |0 to a horizontal open position with cross bar 25 depressed to a position below the top of the outer upright flange 49 of the lower frame member as shown in dotted line positions in Fig. 2, where none of the louver operating parts will obstruct the view between the open louvers i9 except the operating lever, which when mounted as shown will extend upwardly in a vertical position. If the operating lever 41 is mounted to overlie crank lever 3| it too will be swung below the upper edge of the lower end flange 49 of frame As pointed out above with the crank lever 3| in the position shown in Fig. 1, the louvers are fully closed. By swinging lever 3| further to the right, as provided for by the extension of slot 29, crank lever 3| may be swung with pin 39 by that extent, the resiliency of bar 25 and associated parts connected therewith, yielding to permit pin 39 to be carried over the center of shaft 36 and when pin 39 is so positioned in the right-hand end of slot 29 the shutter elements will be locked in closed position.

Having described a preferred highly satisfactory embodiment of operating means for outside metal blinds it is to be understood that various changes in detail may be made within the scope of my invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

l. Operating means for outside metal blinds and the like wherein laterally pivoted shutter elements are mounted one above another so as to swing a horizontal open position or to a vertical closed position, a link at each end of the shutter elements connected with each of the shutter elements so that they may be swung thereby in unison between their fully opened and closed positions, a cross bar having its ends rigidly connected with the lower ends of said links, said cross bar having a longitudinal slot in its intermediate portion, and an operating member therefor including a crank lever having a pin in its upper end engaging the longitudinal slot in the cross bar, a pivotally mounted shaft connected with the lower end of said crank lever, and an operating crank on the other end of said shaft.

2. Operating means for outside metal blinds and the like wherein laterally pivoted shutter elements are mounted one above another so as to swing to a horizontal open position or to a vertical closed position, a link at each end of the shutter elements connected with each of the shutter elements so that they may be swung thereby in unison between their fully opened and closed positions, a cross bar having its ends rigidly connected with the lower ends of said links, said cross bar having a longitudinal slot in its intermediate portion, and an operating member therefor including a crank lever having a pin in its upper end engaging the longitudinal slot in the cross bar, a pivotally mounted shaft connected with the lower end of said crank lever, and an operating crank on the other end of said shaft for swinging said lever to raise or lower said cross bar to close or open the shutter elements and to swing the crank lever beyond the shutter closing position to position the crank pin in the end of the slot in the cross bar on the opposite side of the pivotally mounted shaft to yieldingly maintain the shutter elements locked in their closed position.

ALBERT C. FLETCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 182,992 Byam Oct. 10, 1876 1,550,559 Miller Aug. 18, 1925 2,164,814 Griith July 4, 1939 2,311,300 Dubour et al Feb. 16, 1943 2,359,289 Brown Oct. 3, 1944 2,419,635 Faulkner Apr. 29, 1947 

